Bodkin / Patterns

Don's Killer Chironomid

Midge · Trout · Advanced · 2 versions

Sport Fishing on the Fly dressing

  • Hook 2xL Curved, 16
  • Thread Blue Dun 8/0

Materials

  • Gills White antron
  • Bead 3/32” Black Nickle
  • Body 8/0 Blue Dun Thread
  • Thorax 8/0 Rust Thread

How to tie it

  1. Slide the 3/32" Black Nickle bead on, wide end toward the eye, and push it back. Start a fine 12/0 or 18/0 thread behind the eye, bind a small clump of White Antron with a few tight wraps, snip, whip finish and cut, then slide the bead forward over the gill butts.
  2. Start the 8/0 Blue Dun thread behind the bead.
  3. Measure the fine red and fine black wire to about equal lengths, lay them together along the side of the shank and bind both in behind the bead with a single thread wrap per turn as you bind back close to the bend, so the underbody stays thin.
  4. Lift the wires and take a couple of wraps behind them for a small cheater bump, then wind the body forward with a slight taper, spinning the bobbin to flatten the thread.
  5. Wrap the red wire forward in about six evenly spaced turns, tie off behind the bead and wiggle off the tag.
  6. Follow with the black wire riding just in front of each red turn, tie off behind the bead and twist it off.
  7. Whip finish the Blue Dun thread and cut. Start the 8/0 Rust thread behind the bead, take a few wraps for the thorax, then three or four whip finishes so the transition from body to thorax is clean. Cut, and singe any stray thread ends with a flame.
  8. Pull the gills back and trim them short but full.
  9. Coat the fly with UV resin or Loctite, work it around with a bodkin for an even finish, and set it in a cork to cure.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Tyer Recipe.

Tying videos

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